A kind, humble, unassuming freedom fighter, a comrade who never gave up the fight for the rights of the oppressed people in South Africa.
Uncle Kathy as he was affectionately known, was buried on Wednesday, March 29, at the West Park Cemetery. Leaders of various political parties, organisations, religious and labour movements all sang his praises and applauded him for his humility and unassuming nature.
He started to fight the brutality of the apartheid government from the age of 12 and was the youngest of all the Rivonia Trialists to be sentenced to life on Robben Island.
Uncle Kathy died at the Donald Gordon Hospital in Johannesburg.
My first meeting with Uncle Kathy was at the ANC headquarters at Luthuli House in Johannesburg shortly after all the ANC prisoners were released from Robben Island. I was immediately overwhelmed by his humility and meekness, his soft-spoken voice and the respect and attention he showed during our conversation. Despite the many interruptions, he remained cool and composed.
The second occasion I met Kathrada was in Reiger Park, Boksburg, The Free Boksburg Committee organised a public meeting and Mr Kathrada was invited as a guest speaker. The hall was packed to listen to this man who fought tirelessly against the inhumane apartheid laws. The photo of Mr Kathrada and me was taken after that meeting.
Uncle Kathy had a very interesting past. His full name was Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada. He was born on August 21, 1929, in a small town in the formerly Eastern Transvaal.
At the age of 12 he joined the Young Communist League of SA. He was also the founding member of the Indian Voluntary Corps, Transvaal. He later joined the Indian Youth Congress at the age of 17 and he worked full time for the Transvaal Passive Resistance Movement.
Later the SA Indian Congress launched a passive resistance action, and Kathrada was one of the 2 000 volunteers to be imprisoned. This was his first jail sentence for civil disobedience.
In 1952, Kathrada was one of the accused in the trial of 20 leaders of a defiance campaign. All of the accused were found guilty of contravening the Suppression of Communism Act. Kathrada was again arrested in a nationwide scoop along with 155 other activists.
Ten years later, Kathrada became one of Umkhonto we Sizwe’s (MK) earliest recruits. In 1963 he was arrested at Lilies Farm along with other leaders of the underground movement. This was Kathrada’s 18th arrest. The Rivonia Trial began in October 1963. Kathrada’s co-accused included Mandela, Sisulu, Govan Mbeki and others. They were sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour. Kathrada was 34 years old when he arrived on Robben Island. During his time in prison he studied and obtained four degrees.
Uncle Kathy inspired confidence in all the oppressed people and gave them hope and belief that freedom and democracy would one day become a reality.
Our condolences to the Kathrada family, and with humility we say: Hamba Kahle Uncle Kathy – may your soul rest in peace.
Jerry Theys, Reuven
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